Group Sues In Lombard To Stop School Addition

July 31, 1991

A citizens group is trying to halt construction of a $7.3 million school building in Lombard on the grounds that the school district failed to conduct a referendum to get voter approval for the project.

The group contends that a referendum was required by law, but a school attorney says this is not so.

Citizens for Quality Education filed suit against Lombard Elementary School District 44 on Monday asking for a temporary restraining order to stop excavation work now under way on the site.

The suit also requests a temporary and a permanent injunction to prevent completion of the building until voters approve it in a referendum.

The building is being constructed as an addition to the Westlake Community Center building, located south of Roosevelt Road and west of Main Street.

The district owns the community center but rents it to the Lombard Park District. Next month it will take back the center to renovate it.

The district plans to use both the original structure and the addition as a middle school for 6th, 7th and 8th grade pupils, said David Grace, the district`s business manager.

A school attorney, Robert W. Trevarthen, said that though school districts are required by state law to get voter approval by referendum for construction of new free-standing school buildings, the requirement does not apply to additions onto existing buildings.

He declined further comment on the suit Tuesday, saying district officials have not yet read it.

Grace said the existing building has about 54,000 square feet and the new building will add about 71,000 square feet. The completed building will be divided into three wings, one for each grade, with some common facilities such as cafeteria and library, he said.